2008 RB Class update

[DFWJC]

As a spin-off from soem recent RB threads, here is an update on what may someday be considered the best RB class of all time:

Total Rushing and Receiving yards so far ( 3 seasons):

1. Chris Johnson: 5,606
2. Matt Forte: 4731
3. Ray Rice: 4544
4. Jamaal Charles: 3981
5. Darren Mcfadden: 3050
6. R Mendenhall: 2884
7. Kevin Smith: 2680
8. Tim Hightower: 2534
9. Felix Jones: 2330
10. Peyton Hillis: 2249
11. BJ Green-Ellis: 1530

2010 Totals:

Total Rushing and receiving yards so far ( 3 seasons):

1. Jamaal Charles: 1935
2. Ray Rice: 1776
3. Darren McFadden: 1664
4. Peyton Hillas: 1654
5. Matt Forte: 1609
6. Chris Johnson: 1609
7. Rashard Mendenhall: 1440
8. Felix Jones: 1250
9. BJ Green-Ellis: 1093
10. Tim Hightower: 872

6 RBs over 1500 yards and another two not too far behind.

 

[DFWJC]

As a spin-off from soem recent RB threads, here is an update on what may someday be considered the best RB class of all time:

Total Rushing and Receiving yards so far ( 3 seasons):

1. Chris Johnson: 5,606
2. Matt Forte: 4731
3. Ray Rice: 4544
4. Jamaal Charles: 3981
5. Darren Mcfadden: 3050
6. R Mendenhall: 2884
7. Kevin Smith: 2680
8. Tim Hightower: 2534
9. Felix Jones: 2330
10. Peyton Hillis: 2249
11. BJ Green-Ellis: 1530

2010 Totals:

Total Rushing and receiving yards so far ( 3 seasons):

1. Jamaal Charles: 1935
2. Ray Rice: 1776
3. Darren McFadden: 1664
4. Peyton Hillas: 1654
5. Matt Forte: 1609
6. Chris Johnson: 1609
7. Rashard Mendenhall: 1440
8. Felix Jones: 1250
9. BJ Green-Ellis: 1093
10. Tim Hightower: 872

6 RBs over 1500 yards and another two not too far behind.

Did I leave anyone out?

If not. Who was best value?
Maybe J Charles?

 

[Future]

Did I leave anyone out?

If not. Who was best value?
Maybe J Charles?

Definitely Charles. I wanted him.

 

[DFWJC]

As a spin-off from soem recent RB threads, here is an update on what may someday be considered the best RB class of all time:

Total Rushing and Receiving yards so far ( 3 seasons):

1. Chris Johnson: 5,606
2. Matt Forte: 4731
3. Ray Rice: 4544
4. Jamaal Charles: 3981
5. Darren Mcfadden: 3050
6. R Mendenhall: 2884
7. Kevin Smith: 2680
8. Tim Hightower: 2534
9. Felix Jones: 2330
10. Peyton Hillis: 2249
11. BJ Green-Ellis: 1530

2010 Totals:
Total Rushing and Receiving yards ( 2010):

1. Jamaal Charles: 1935
2. Ray Rice: 1776
3. Darren McFadden: 1664
4. Peyton Hillis: 1654
5. Matt Forte: 1609
6. Chris Johnson: 1609
7. Rashard Mendenhall: 1440
8. Felix Jones: 1250
9. BJ Green-Ellis: 1093
10. Tim Hightower: 872

6 RBs over 1500 yards and another two not too far behind.

fixed it

So is the best RB class ever? Probably too early to say.

 

[AdamJT13]

Did I leave anyone out?

Jonathan Stewart. Ryan Torain and Steve Slaton were drafted that year, too.


Here's another list --

YARDS PER CARRY
1. Jamaal Charles 6.05
2. Felix Jones 5.29
3. Chris Johnson 4.97
4. Tashard Choice 4.79
5. Jonathan Stewart 4.70
6. Darren McFadden 4.58
7. Ryan Torain 4.53
8. Ray Rice 4.51
9. Peyton Hillis 4.48
10. Steve Slaton 4.33
11. BenJarvus Green-Ellis 4.25
12. Rashard Mendenhall 4.17
13.Matt Forte 3.99
14. Tim Hightower 3.95
15. Kevin Smith 3.80

 

[DFWJC]

Jonathan Stewart. Ryan Torain and Steve Slaton were drafted that year, too.


Here's another list --

YARDS PER CARRY
1. Jamaal Charles 6.05
2. Felix Jones 5.29
3. Chris Johnson 4.97
4. Tashard Choice 4.79
5. Jonathan Stewart 4.70
6. Darren McFadden 4.58
7. Ryan Torain 4.53
8. Ray Rice 4.51
9. Peyton Hillis 4.48
10. Steve Slaton 4.33
11. BenJarvus Green-Ellis 4.25
12. Rashard Mendenhall 4.17
13.Matt Forte 3.99
14. Tim Hightower 3.95
15. Kevin Smith 3.80

I knew I left an obvious one out...J Stewert. I knew I left Torain and Slaten, but their numbers were low due to injuries.
Thanks

YPC is tough unless there is some large minimum number of carries to filter it out. For example, when Felix' number of carries went way up last year, his YPC was 4.3....which is still decent. Almost always this is the case though. Once a back approaches 200 carries, his YPC always declines. If it's over 250, further decline still becasue it mean he's getting short yardage work and some wear and tear.
In any case, I think Felix could rush for 1200+ if he got the carries (even if his ypc would be lower). That may not happen now with a new kid in town.
We'll see.

 

[TheCount]

Jonathan Stewart. Ryan Torain and Steve Slaton were drafted that year, too.


Here's another list --

YARDS PER CARRY
1. Jamaal Charles 6.05
2. Felix Jones 5.29
3. Chris Johnson 4.97
4. Tashard Choice 4.79
5. Jonathan Stewart 4.70
6. Darren McFadden 4.58
7. Ryan Torain 4.53
8. Ray Rice 4.51
9. Peyton Hillis 4.48
10. Steve Slaton 4.33
11. BenJarvus Green-Ellis 4.25
12. Rashard Mendenhall 4.17
13.Matt Forte 3.99
14. Tim Hightower 3.95
15. Kevin Smith 3.80

And people want to get rid of Choice.

 

[THUMPER]

Jonathan Stewart. Ryan Torain and Steve Slaton were drafted that year, too.


Here's another list --

YARDS PER CARRY
1. Jamaal Charles 6.05
2. Felix Jones 5.29
3. Chris Johnson 4.97
3a. Justin Forsett 4.90 & 1744 total yards
4. Tashard Choice 4.79
5. Jonathan Stewart 4.70
6. Darren McFadden 4.58
7. Ryan Torain 4.53
8. Ray Rice 4.51
9. Peyton Hillis 4.48
10. Steve Slaton 4.33
11. BenJarvus Green-Ellis 4.25
12. Rashard Mendenhall 4.17
13.Matt Forte 3.99
14. Tim Hightower 3.95
15. Kevin Smith 3.80

Not bad for a 7th round pick.

 

[DFWJC]

And people want to get rid of Choice.

Choice is pretty good. I'd not be in any rush to ditch him.
That YPC is VERY misleading for him though. His YPC last year was 3.7.

He has not had a season with even 100 carries, so his data is incomplete.

Still, I do think he will be in the league for awhile.
So we agree.

 

[DFWJC]

Not bad for a 7th round pick.

LOL
Look at all of those backs!
15+ and counting.

 

[perrykemp]

Charles at 6+ ypc is CRAZY. You just don't see that in the NFL. Maybe once every 20-30 years for a 1000 yard back.

 

[percyhoward]

I think any statistical analysis of Felix should consider the fact that he got a ton of carries out of 2-back sets when the defense was expecting run, despite the team being without a FB who could block.

I've posted this before, but it kind of fits here. It's the top 30 rushers of 2010, along with the percentage of their total carries that were from 2-back sets. What's incredible about this is that many of these guys are their team's designated short-yardage back (which actually means extra carries from 2-back sets for them), and they still had less than Felix, percentage-wise.

Carries from 2-back sets
Jones vs. NFL Running Backs
Avg. of Top 30 Rushers 49.6%
Felix Jones 72%
Maurice Jones-Drew 71%
Shonn Greene 68%
LaGarrette Blount 67%
Arian Foster 65%
Jonathan Stewart 65%
Darren McFadden 64%
Peyton Hillis 64%
Ronnie Brown 64%
Michael Turner 61%
Ray Rice 58%
Brandon Jackson 56%
Frank Gore 56%
Marshawn Lynch 55%
LaDanian Tomlinson 54%
Ahmad Bradshaw 52%
Ryan Torain 52%
Thomas Jones 50%
Fred Jackson 49%
Chris Johnson 46%
Cedric Benson 45%
Adrian Peterson 44%
Jamal Charles 42%
Matt Forte 41%
LeSean McCoy 40%
Steven Jackson 39%
Rashard Mendenhall 37%
Knowshon Moreno 32%
Jahvid Best 27%
BenJarvus Green-Ellis 25%

 

[TheCount]

Choice is pretty good. I'd not be in any rush to ditch him.
That YPC is VERY misleading for him though. His YPC last year was 3.7.

He has not had a season with even 100 carries, so his data is incomplete.

Still, I do think he will be in the league for awhile.
So we agree.

All our RB's ate it last year, though. All three running backs averaged career lows in YPC.

 

[percyhoward]

Choice is pretty good. I'd not be in any rush to ditch him.
That YPC is VERY misleading for him though. His YPC last year was 3.7.

Choice and Barber need good blocking in order to be productive. They depend on their OL and FB more than a guy like Felix does. That's what makes a back with speed who is good in open space a better fit for this team than Choice or Barber.

Compare the backs when running from passing sets (3+ WR, 1 RB, etc).
YPC w/3+ WR
Jones 5.3
Barber 3.6
Choice 3.5

YPC as single back
Jones 5.0
Barber 3.4
Choice 3.1

 

[casmith07]

What this tells me is that Felix Jones would be doing much better if Barber was not on the roster the last few years.

 

[casmith07]

Choice and Barber need good blocking in order to be productive. They depend on their OL and FB more than a guy like Felix does. That's what makes a back with speed who is good in open space a better fit for this team than Choice or Barber.

Demarco Murray come on down.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Demarco Murray come on down.

:clap2:

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

As a spin-off from soem recent RB threads, here is an update on what may someday be considered the best RB class of all time:

Total Rushing and Receiving yards so far ( 3 seasons):

1. Chris Johnson: 5,606
2. Matt Forte: 4731
3. Ray Rice: 4544
4. Jamaal Charles: 3981
5. Darren Mcfadden: 3050
6. R Mendenhall: 2884
7. Kevin Smith: 2680
8. Tim Hightower: 2534
9. Felix Jones: 2330
10. Peyton Hillis: 2249
11. BJ Green-Ellis: 1530

2010 Totals:

Total Rushing and receiving yards so far ( 3 seasons):

1. Jamaal Charles: 1935
2. Ray Rice: 1776
3. Darren McFadden: 1664
4. Peyton Hillas: 1654
5. Matt Forte: 1609
6. Chris Johnson: 1609
7. Rashard Mendenhall: 1440
8. Felix Jones: 1250
9. BJ Green-Ellis: 1093
10. Tim Hightower: 872

6 RBs over 1500 yards and another two not too far behind.

I never wanted felix jones. I thought he was over rated and no better than a late 2nd rounder. last year I suggested to trade Jones (hypothetically speaking) and I got creamed for it. Jones has never been the man. he hasn't been the primary back for 7 years now. if he is (was) that good, at some point the talent would have taken over. it hasn't. people continue to make exuses for him. wasted draft pick IMO

 

[jobberone]

I never wanted felix jones. I thought he was over rated and no better than a late 2nd rounder. last year I suggested to trade Jones (hypothetically speaking) and I got creamed for it. Jones has never been the man. he hasn't been the primary back for 7 years now. if he is (was) that good, at some point the talent would have taken over. it hasn't. people continue to make exuses for him. wasted draft pick IMO

Felix has done reasonably well for his role and our OL. He has never been the number one go to guy so what do you expect from him?

If you want to argue we would have been better served to pick up an OL, DL or S with that pick I wouldn't argue although I'd have to go back and look at that draft with a keen eye to see who were available and were value picks near where he was drafted. Too lazy to do that but I'll leave it up to someone else if they are enterprising.

I'm content with the pick. Felix makes the defense account for him. He stretches the field and is a matchup problem for LBs and S. That's enough for me considering he's a homerun threat when he's out there.

 

[percyhoward]

What this tells me is that Felix Jones would be doing much better if Barber was not on the roster the last few years.

Imagine how much more productive Felix would have been last year if we hadn't been determined to run him out of the same kind of sets that we used Barber in.

Percentage of runs from 2-back sets
Jones 71.9%
Barber 71.7%

Felix averaged 5.0 ypc as a single back, but only got 28.1% of his carries as a single back. Think what it would do to his ypc if he'd been more in line with the league average of 50% of his carries as a single back. Or 60%, like McCoy, Mendenhall, and Jackson all got. Felix gets 40 extra carries as a single back, and his 4.3 per carry average goes up to 4.6 or 4.7, and that's assuming he doesn't break one. And it gives you an extra WR on the field (who is probably Roy, who blocks better than Gronk anyway).

How does a slow-footed bruiser like Barber end up getting more of his carries without FB support than a shifty speed guy like Felix? Barber had more than seven times as many short-yardage carries as Felix.

Short-yardage carries
Barber 23
Jones 3

This means that, in normal down-and-distance (or non-short yardage), we were using Barber as the lone set back for 35.6% of his carries, and Felix for 28.6% of his carries. Go figure that one.